Da Nang hails over 1,500 foreigners during New Year

The central city of Da Nang welcomed over 1,500 foreign tourists
during the first five days of the Lunar New Year, signalling a promising
outlook for its tourism sector.

The cruise ship
Gemini was the first tourist vessel to dock at Tien Sa port in the Lunar
New Year. Its 1,400 passengers, mainly from China toured Da Nang
and Hoi An.

According to the Saigontourist travel
service company, as many as 47 cruise ships with 42,000 tourists aboard
will dock at Tien Sa port in the first quarter of this year, up 31
percent from last year.

Earlier on February 10, the
first day of the Lunar New Year, aircraft A320 of Air Asia with 152
passengers on board safely landed at Da Nang international airport,
the first flight into the city in the Year of the Snake.

The airport welcomed over 4,000 visitors on 40 domestic and
international flights during the first five days. The number of foreign
tourists is expected to grow by nearly 20 percent this year thanks to
more direct flights linking the city with Russia , Macao and China
.

Last year, around 157,000 tourists flew to Da Nang , a year-on-year rise of 236 percent.

More passenger buses travelling between Da Nang and Laos as well
as cities and provinces nationwide resumed operations on February 11,
the second day of the Lunar New Year.

Bach Dang
Spring Flower Street, which will remain open until February 16, has
also attracted hordes of domestic and foreign revellers.-VNA